Halloween Celebrations Bring Chaos in College Station
College Station was buzzing with excitement on Halloween night, but unfortunately, it seems that not all of the festivities were in the spirit of the season. In a scene that could be straight out of a movie, police were called to break up a party that swelled to an estimated 400 to 500 attendees in the Southside neighborhood, just south of the Texas A&M campus. The gathering was reportedly held at the home of two Aggie baseball players, Hayden Schott and Jace Laviolette, which certainly caught the attention of Aggie Athletics.
An athletics spokesman mentioned that they are cooperating with the ongoing investigation led by the College Station Police Department (CSPD). Interestingly, they clarified that the baseball team was not involved in sponsoring this particular event. However, the chaos at the gathering led to tickets being issued to Schott and Laviolette for unidentified violations due to the loud festivities. More shockingly, a bartender was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor for furnishing alcohol to minors. Sounds like a Halloween to remember, albeit not for the right reasons!
Late Night Shenanigans
As if the party wasn’t enough, around 2:30 AM on November 1, a CSPD officer on routine patrol noted that the night was still very much alive. While cruising through the Barracks subdivision, he heard some loud screeching tires. A pickup truck was spotted doing a burnout, with its diesel engine roaring. The officer, concerned for safety, pulled the vehicle over. Upon approaching, he noticed fire was emanating from the engine bay!
The 21-year-old driver from League City was arrested for reckless driving. Three passengers scurried out of the truck just in time, but there’s no word yet if they got into any trouble themselves. It goes to show that Halloween in College Station might have been a bit too wild for some!
New Beginnings for Blinn College
Shifting gears, there’s exciting news coming from Blinn College as they officially announced the acquisition of land for their sixth campus, located in Waller County. The school confirmed that the purchase of 100 acres will set them back over $19.5 million, with funding sourced from unrestricted cash. The site is conveniently located just north of Highway 290 at the FM 2920 and Binford Road intersection.
As of now, no timeline has been shared regarding the completion of programming and facilities planning, which typically precedes the design phase of a new campus. Chancellor Dr. Mary Hensley expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “Today’s announcement marks a historic moment for the Blinn College District and for the Waller-Harris County community.” Dr. Hensley shared hopes that this new location will offer academic and workforce training programs that will empower students for future success.
What to Expect
The new campus joins an array of existing locations including Brenham, Bryan, RELLIS, Schulenburg, and Sealy. It promises to enhance academic offerings in the area. Blinn College has a strong reputation and prides itself on the highest academic transfer rate in Texas, so students can expect an abundance of opportunities that facilitate seamless transfers to renowned four-year universities.
Interestingly, classes are already in motion at Waller ISD’s junior high school, and according to Blinn, these evening courses will continue until the new campus is ready. Students have access to various programs including occupational skills awards and certificates in fields like mechatronics.
Other Local Happenings
Before we wrap up, let’s take a quick glance at a couple of other incidents in the area. A man was arrested in Bryan for breaking into a stranger’s home and ended up getting struck with a bat by the homeowner, while a College Station man found himself in hot water again for a new assault charge after a previous run-in with the law
Clearly, College Station has been quite the lively hub for both festive and less-than-festive events. As the community continues to evolve, let’s hope it keeps steering towards positive change, particularly in areas of education and community engagement!
